Safety cranking device for explosive-engines.



n J. L; BECK. SAFETY GRANKING DEVICE .FOR EXPLOSIVB ENGINES.

AIPPLIO'ATION 1111,1111 FEB. 24, 1911. Patented May 2-8, 1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

J. L. BECK SAFETY CRAN-KI'MDBVIOE FOREX'PLOSIVE ENGINES.

APPLICATION FILED FEB- 24, 1911. v I

' Y Patented May 28, 1912.

' sums-sump 2. J

ATTORNEY.

on a vertical. plane.

UNITED/STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN L. BECK, OF SPRINGFIELD, 'MASSACHUSETTS; ASSIGNOR TO THE AUTO SAFETY CRANK COMPANY, OF HOLYOKE, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MASSA- CHUSETTS.

SAFETY cnnrixmennvrcn ron EXPLOSIVE-ENGINES}.

' Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May28, 1912.

Application filed February 24, 1911. Serial No. 610,483.

' cranking the engine shaft takes up a forcible reversed rotation.

Another objectis to provide a crank which is always positive and reliable in operation,

which in the organization thereof comprises -comparatively few, simple, and inexpensively constructed parts. Andanother object of the invention is to produce a safety crank which. is applicable for use withlittle or no change or addition to established con structions and conditions on any automobile or explosiveengine elsewhere used.

The invention is described in. conjunction with the accompanying drawings and is defined in the claims.

Inthe drawings :Figure 1 is a side elevation of the safety crank as mounted for use in relation to an engine shaft and toe part of a structure in conjunction with which the engine shaft is employed. Fig. 2 is a.

longitudinal sectional View through the.

safety cranking device taken substantially the mechanism of the cranking device with certain external parts in central. horizontal section- Fig. 4 is a cross sectional View on line 4l-4, Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view as taken on the staggered section line 5--5, Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is a cross sectional view on line (3(), Fig. 3. Fig; 7 is a perspective vieivshowing in separated relations all of the elemental components of the device.

, The cranking device forming the subject of this case is of the same general type as those shown and described in my co-pending applications, Serial Numbers 590,687 and 615,675 filed,resj )ectively, November 4, 1910, and March 20, 1911.

In the drawings :A represents a small] portion of the engine shaft having the clutchmember A thereon, as usual.

B represents the-starting or cranking shaft "cranking shaft serving to retain the'sleeve Fig. 3 is a plan'view of clutch member comprising parts D and D the details of construction of which will be hereinafter pointedou-l". The part D of the fixed clutch member has the rearwardly facing teeth a. The forward portion of the cranking shaft is made of reduced diameter whereby shoulder b is'produced. E represents 'a sleeve like member having its rearward end abutting against the said shoulder. Said sleeve has an intermediate annular flange 6, and its forward end portion is provided with the external screw thread f preferably formed as double or triple-threads, and of comparatively massive and strain resisting proportions. The periphery of the sleeve member E to the rear of the shoulder a made with teeth 9 as shown in Figs. 2, 3, (5 and 7, while its extreme rearward necked down extremity is screw threaded for the reception of the ring hut F thereon. The orifice of the passage atthe forward end of the sleeve member is flaring as shown and receivestherein the splitatapered shell H, the interposition of said shell between the flaring mouth of the sleeve member and the.

member in comparatively tight frictional. engagement with theshaft. Y

The starting hand crank C is made at its end with a hollow cylindrical hub C which incloses the greater portion of the length of v the sleeve member E and the clutch member D,.D .'on the forward end of the'cranking shaft as well also as an annular member G which has its location'between the aforementioned flange 'e and the fixed clutch member. The member G is internally threaded. and is in engagement with the threads of the sleeve member and its forward end is made with teeth 71- to form a clutch member for coaction with the teeth a: of the companion clutch member. The said annular member G, carried in the hollow hub of the crankis normally non-rotative but isaxially inovable relatively to such hub, and as a provision to this end, said part;

G is provided with long'ggitudina, peripheral" lishment of the aforementioned grooves z with intervening ribs to receive the engagement therewith of dogs the inwardly projecting ends of which'engage in the grooves between the ribs forthe estaband manifest conditions.

J represents a dust rlng screw engaging the rear end of the hub C and forming an internal shoulder for the engagement therewith of the sleeve flange e.

L represents a ring encircling the toothed portion 9 of the sleeve member E having pawls 7c in engagement with-the teeth 9. This ringis'h'eld by thering 'nut -F so that it must move bodily in the axial line of the device as one with the-forwardly spring pressed cranking shaft. and its equipments, and it is made with a radial extension L which is provided with a bar or dowel L which has a sliding engagement through an aperture;m therefor in a.bracket or fixed part M which in practice may be rigidly secured on the front of the automobile frame with the engine shaft.

I clutch member B,

, or suitably otherwise.

'The cranking shaft is forced into clutch In the cranking operation, the cranking shaft B is forcedinwardly to engage its with the clutch member A on the engine shaft A in the usual manner. The crank C C is then revolved in the I starting direction, ,or clockwise, z. e., the di- 1 member-G causing that member to be moved endwise forwardly .into engagement with on the. outer end of the starting whereupon said shaft, and, with it, the enrection indicated by the arrow in Fig.5, the engagemeiftl of the pawls j 'withthe external teeth 2' of theinte-rnally threaded annular the teeth a of the fixed clutch member D D shaft B,

gine shaft, will be turned.

In case of a back kick, whereby shaft Bis caused'to rotate reversely, (that is, in the di- 'i'ection indicated by the sleeve E which is frictionally engaged the arrow in Fig. 6),

with said shaft, will, be held a ainst back ward rotation by the pawls k wh1le the shaft itself will now, by reason of the great power exerted by the engine, rotate in a backward direction independently of. the sleeve. This backward rotation of shaft B .and'the clutch member D D thereon will cause, for an instant, the rotation in a backward directlon of the annular internall threaded member Gwhi'ch is' then in clutc with the said clutch.:member D D When member G is rotated backwardly in this It may be explained that on the back kick a slight backward impulse is imparted through the pawl-engaged annular member G to the crank in the slight instant required.

for the annular member G to thread itself onto the quick-threaded-"portion of thesleeve E which causes the starting shaft to become unclutched from the crank. ThlS last-explained act-ion transpires so nearly in- 1 stantaneously that in actual practice a forced backward rotary movement of only about two inches'is given at the handle end of the crank; and although this forced movement is transmitted to'the hand grasping the crank, the crank throw is ineffective to cause injury the cranking operation.

The spacmgcollar t interposed bet-ween the forward end of the tapered friction shell i H and the inner face of the clutch part D acts as a. retainer 'for. holding the tapered shell in its effective relation to the sleeve 1*]; and the spiral spring P 1s applied, as shown in Fig. 2, in compression between the inner face ofthe clutch part D and the forward end of the annular internally screw threadto the person employed in.

ed member G with the effect ofassisting in the releasing emergency action of the device,

and is a provis10n which insures on the throw out that the teeth a and h Wlll, not

become stripped at their points. a I cla11n:

1.. The combination withan engine shaft i and a cranking shaft adapted to be engaged therewith, of a sleeve normally non-rotativerelatively to the crankingshaft mounted on that shaft and 'frictionally engaged therethreads, a clutch memberfixed on said crank-.- ing shaft, a crank'having a hub,'.an annular threaded clutch member located within-said hub and connected withthesame', said anwith,,said sleeve being provided with screw nular clutch member being normally nonrotative but axially movable relative ,to said hub, and being threaded upon said sleeve,

and means operative to permit the rotation of said sleeve with the cranking shaft during the forward rotation of said shaft, but

preventing the rotation of said sleevewith said shaft under a. reversed back kick rotation thereof.

'2, The'combination with an engine shaft and a cranking shaft adapted to be engaged "therewith, ofa sleeve normally non-rotative relatively to the cranking shaft mounted on that shaft and friction'ally'engaged therewith, said sleeve-being provided with external screw threads, a clutch memberfixed upon one end of said cranking shaft, a crank having a hub incasing said sleeve, an annular threaded clutch member disposed within said hub, said annular clutch member being normally non-rotative but axially relatively to said hub, and being threaded on said sleeve, and means operative to permit iio movable said sleeve to rotate with said cranking shaft" during the forward engine-starting rotation therewith, of a sleeve normally non-rotative relatively to the crankingshaft-mounted on that shaft and frictionally engaged there with, said sleeve being provided with 'exter nal screw threads, a clutch member fixed upon one end ofsaid cranking shaft, a crank provided with a hollow sleeve, an annular clutch member threaded on said sleeve and having external longitudinal ribs and grooves, members carried by the crank hub engaging said ribs and. grooves to normally hold said annular clutch member against rotation but permitting axial movement of the same relative to said hub, and pawl-and-ratchet engaging means operative to permit rotation of said sleeve with the cranking shaft during the for 'ard rotation of that shaft, but preventing the rotation of said sleeve with said cranking shaft under a reversed rotation thereof.

i. The combination with an engine shaft and a cranking shaft adapted to be engaged thereivitli,of asleeve normally non-rotative relatively to the cranking shaft mounted on that shaft and frictionally engaged therewith, said sleeve being provided with external screw threads, a clutch member fixed on said cranking shaft, a hollow body encircling said sleeve and carrying within it an annular threaded clutch member which is normally non-rotative but axially movable relatively thereto, a-ndwhich is screw-engaged with said sleeve, a collar encircling said sleeve, pawl-and-ratchet devices coacting between the collar and sleeve, and means operative to'prevent revolubl'e movement of the collar but permitting it to move bodily longitudinally with, and along the axis of, the cranking shaft and relatively to the engine shaft.

5.v In a device .of the character described,

in combination, an engine shaft having a clutch member at its end, and a cranking shaft having adjacent the engine shaft a cooperative clutcli member, andhaving at its forward end another clutch member. a sleeve encircling the cranking shaft and immovable axially relatively thereto, said sleeve having a flaring mouth at one end and having an externally screw threaded portion, a tapered friction. shell encircling the cranking shaft, and engaging between said shaft and the flaring mouth of said sleeve to hold the latter normally non-rotiitive relatively to the cranking shaft,

a member encircling-said sleeve, an annular clutch member located Within said encircling member and normally non-rotative but axiallv movable relatively hub incasing said to the same, said annular clutch member being internally threaded for engagement with said sleeve, and pawl-and-ratchet means opei'ative to permit the rotation of the sleeve with said cranking shaft during the forward rotation of that shaft, but preventing the rotation 'of said sleeve with said cranking shaftunder av reversed rotation of the latter.

6. T hecombination with an engine shaft and a cranking shaft adapted to be engaged therewith, of a sleeve normally non-rotative relatively to the cranking shaft mounted on that shaft-and frictionally engaged therewith, said sleeve being provided with external screw threads, a clutch member fixed on said cranking shaft, a crank provided with a hollow hub incasing said sleeve,-an annu-. lar internally threaded clutch member carried by said hub within its interior,which member is normally non'rotative but axially movable relatively to saidv hub and isscrewengaged with saidsleeve, pawll-and-ratchet engaging means operative to permitthe'rd tation of the sleeve with said cranking shaft during the forward rotation of that shaft, but preventing the'rotation of said sleeve with said cranking shaft under a reversed rotation. of the latter, and a spring for reaction between the cranking shaft clutch member and the said annular internally threaded clutchmember.

7. In a safety cranking device, in combination, an engine shaft and a cranking shaft cooperative therewith, said cranking shaft being provided at its forward end with a fixed clutch member, a sleeve mounted on the' cranking shaft and -frictionally engaged with the same, and provided with external screw threads, a crank'havinga hollow hub incasing said sleeve and said fixed clutch member, an. annular internally threaded clutch member screw engaging said sleeve, said annular clutch member being normally non-rotative but movable axially relatively to said hub, and means operative topermit forward rotation of said sleeve with said cranking shaft but preventing the rotation of said sleeve with said cranking shaft under a reversed rotation of the latter.

8 In a safety cranking. device, in combination, a cranking shaft provided at its forward extremity with a fixed clutch member, a sleeve mounted on the cranking shaft and formed with external screw threads at the forward portion thereof-and with a series of peripheral threads, means for friction-ally engaging the sleeve with. the sl1aft,, a crank having a hollow hub lllCitSlIlQ said sleeve and fixed clutch member, an internally threaded annular clutch member disposed within said hub in screw engagement with said sleeve, said an-- teeth located beyond said ion jecting into said longitudinal grooves, and

a non-revoluble ring embracing the toothed portion of said sleeve, and provided with pawls in engagement with such portion.

9. The combination, with an engine shaft having a clutch member, of a forwardly spring-pressed cranking shaft having a clutch member at its rear end and also provided with a clutch member at its forward end, an externally screw -threaded sleeve mounted on the cranking shaft and'provided withperipheral teeth, means for frictionally engaging the sleeve with said crankingshaft, a crank having a hollow hub inclosing said sleeve and the clutch member forward thereof, an internally threaded annular clutch member disposed within said hub in screw engagement. with said sleeve, .:means operative to normally hold the annular clutch member against rotation, "but permitting axial -movement of thesame, relative to said hub, a non-revoluble ring embracing the toothed portion of ,said sleeve member and axially movable bodily in unison withlsaid sleeve and said cranking shaft,

said ring being provided with a bar projecting in a line parallel with the cranking shaft, and a fixed part with which said bar has a sliding engagement,

10. In a safety cranking device, in combination, a cranking shaft having a shoulder thereon and provided .at its forward end with a fixed cliitch member, a sleeve member mounted on the cranking shaft and frictionally engaged therewith, said sleeve abutting at one end against said shoulder and having an intermediate annular flange, the portion of said sleeve forward of said flange being externally screw threaded, a crank having a hollow hub incasing said sleeve, an internally threaded annular clutch member disposed within said hub in screw engage.-

-ment with said sleeve, said annular clutch member. being, normally non-rotative but axially movable relatively to said hub, a .fscrew ring engaging the rear end of thehub and forming an internal shoulder for the latter which engages said flange, a non -revoluble ring encircling the toothed portion of said sleeve and carrying p; wls engaging the teeth of the latter, and aring nut screw engaging on the rear end portlon of said sleeve and disposed against the rear face or" said ring.

Signed by me at Springfield, Mass, in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN L. BECK. Witnesses:

W'M. S. BnLLoWs, G. B. DRISCOLL.

Gories of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Eatents,

Washingfin, n. c. 

